System and method for providing virtual items to users of a virtual space

ABSTRACT

A system and method for providing virtual items to users of an online game operated in a virtual space. Multiple users may participate in affiliations or alliances of discrete groups of users in an online game and may access the online game through client computing platforms associated with the users. The affiliations may have affiliation game units associated with affiliations which provide a benefit to the members of the online game. Affiliation members may cumulatively obtain affiliation game units and/or upgrade affiliation game units by providing one or more virtual items. Upgrading affiliation game units may require the cooperation of multiple members of the affiliation.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates to providing virtual items to users of a virtualspace, and in particular providing virtual items to users of a virtualspace, wherein the users of the virtual space have a relationship withone another.

BACKGROUND

The popularity of online games has grown over the years. Conventionalonline games are provided through gaming platforms, such asFacebook.com, Kabam.com, Zynga.com, Bigpoint Games, Steam, etc. Withinthe online games and/or gaming platforms, gaming communities havedeveloped to promote group-based game play. The gaming communities maybe known as affiliations. The affiliations facilitate online game playto perform tasks within the online game, facilitate actions within theonline game amongst members of the affiliation, and facilitate actionsto compete against other affiliations.

Membership with an affiliation may impact retention of users within theonline game. That is, users of an online game that are members of anaffiliation may be more likely to spend more time and resources withinan online game. Conventional affiliations within online games may beall-inclusive, accepting all users that desire membership to theaffiliation, while other affiliations within an online game may beextremely exclusive. Certain affiliations grant memberships to new usersbased on a need for additional members or based on in-game performancemetrics of users. As such, affiliations may become cliques, wheremembership to an affiliation is hard or impossible for new users toobtain. Additionally, joining an affiliation may seem like a dauntingtask to new users.

Accordingly, alternative approaches including incentives for users thatare members of an affiliation may encourage affiliations to accept newmembers and/or encourage current members of the affiliation to remainactive and/or increase their activity in the online game.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the disclosure relates to a system that provides virtualitems to users of a virtual space. The system may provide virtual itemsto users having an affiliation in the virtual space, such that thevirtual items are provided to one or more of the affiliation members.The affiliation virtual item or affiliation unit may provide a benefitto the members of the affiliation. The benefit may be provided to eachmember individually, or the benefit may be provided to the memberscollectively. When the benefit is provided to the members collectively,the benefit may be realized when the members of the affiliation areacting for a common goal or purpose. The affiliation units may beprovided to members of the affiliation in response to the membersproviding virtual items in exchange for the affiliation units. Theaffiliation units may provide a benefit having a benefit level that isproportional to the number of users of an affiliation that havecontributed virtual items. The affiliation units may be distributed tothe members of the affiliation after a threshold number of users haveprovided virtual items.

In implementations, a system may include one or more physical computerprocessors configured by machine readable instructions to perform one ormore functions. The machine readable instructions may be thought ofconceptually as components of the machine readable instructions.However, this application includes all forms of machine readableinstructions whether provided in component form or otherwise. Suchcomponents may include a space component, a user component, arelationship component, a virtual item component, an offer component, adistribution component, a notification component, and one or more othercomponents.

The space component may facilitate participation by multiple users in anonline game through client computing platforms associated with theusers. The space component may be configured to execute an instance ofthe online game to facilitate presentation of the online game to theusers. The game module may be configured to implement in-game actions inthe instance of the online game in response to actions requests for thein-game actions from the users. The space component may be configured tofacilitate user participation in the online game by effectuatingtransmission of information related to the instance of the online gameto client computing platforms on which views of the online game arepresented to users. The users may include a first user and a seconduser.

The relationship component may be configured to manage one or moreaffiliations within the online game. A given affiliation within theonline game may comprise a discrete group of users with a relationshiphaving a functional significance within the online game. Therelationship having a functional significance in the online game mayimpact on-game play for the users. The affiliations may comprise a firstaffiliation within a first online game between a group of usersincluding the first user and the second user. The relationship having afunctional significance may include one or more of a leadership role, acontroller role, a mentorship role, and/or an administrator role.

The virtual item component may be configured to provide affiliation gameunits associated with affiliations within the online game. Theaffiliation game units may be, for example, game characters, realmsassociated with the affiliation, buildings providing a benefit to users,weapons associated with the affiliation, vehicles associated with theaffiliation, symbolic virtual items associated with the affiliation,and/or other virtual items. The affiliation game units may becontrollable in the online game by individual ones of the users in theaffiliations with which they are associated. The affiliation game unitsmay include a first affiliation game unit associated with the firstaffiliation.

The affiliation game units may include one or more benefit metrics,wherein the benefit metrics indicate a benefit received by theaffiliation members from the affiliation game unit. The benefit metricsmay reflect increased stamina, cohesion, effectiveness, brutality,speed, power, and/or other parameters for users' armed forces within thegame. The benefit metrics may reflect increased production, yield,effectiveness, multiplication, and/or other parameters for users'resources within the online game. The benefit metrics may reflect abenefit over other members of different affiliations. The benefitmetrics may reflect increased responsiveness of the virtual spaceenvironment to users of the affiliation. The benefit metrics may reflectavailability of game elements, such as quests, missions, map areas,and/or other game elements within the virtual space. The benefit metricsmay reflect a multiplier for users of an affiliation when users arepurchasing virtual currency to use in the virtual space. The benefitmetrics may reflect a discount for in-game items for users of theaffiliation.

The benefit metrics may comprise level values, indicating a level of thebenefit indicated by the benefit metric. For example, the higher thelevel value of a benefit metric, the more benefit is provided to theusers of the affiliation. The virtual item component may be configuredto increase a level value of one or more benefit metrics of theaffiliation game units. The virtual item component may increase thelevel value of the one or more benefit metrics in response to the usersin the affiliations providing one or more virtual items. For example, afirst level value of a first benefit metric of the first affiliationgame unit may be increased in response to the first user providing oneor more virtual items. The first level value of a first benefit metricof the first affiliation game unit may be increased in response to thefirst user and the second user providing one or more virtual items.

The amount of increase of the level value of the one or more benefitmetrics may be based on the amount of users having the given affiliationthat provide one or more virtual items to upgrade the affiliation gameunit. The amount of increase of the level value of the one or morebenefit metrics of the affiliation game item may be based on theproportion of users having a given affiliation that have provided one ormore virtual items to upgrade the affiliation game unit. The amount ofincrease of the level value of the one or more benefit metrics of theaffiliation game item may be based on the number of users having a givenaffiliation that have provided one or more virtual items to upgrade theaffiliation game unit, exceeding one or more thresholds. The amount ofincrease of the level value of the one or more benefit metrics of theaffiliation game item may be based on the cumulative value of thevirtual items provided by the users having a given affiliation toupgrade the affiliation game unit.

The one or more benefit metrics of the one or more affiliation gameunits may have one or more discrete benefit level values and the virtualitem components may be configured to promote the one or more benefitmetrics from a first benefit level value to a second benefit level valuein response to a threshold amount of the users having a givenaffiliation providing a threshold amount of one or more virtual items topromote the one or more affiliation character units. The one or morebenefit metrics of the given affiliation may include one or more of adefense metric, an attack metric, a skill metric, a loyalty metric, amoral metric, an energy metric, and/or a speed metric. The one or morebenefit metrics of the given affiliation may include one or more of aresource metric and/or a production attack metric.

The affiliation game unit may be a game unit which, when used by amember of the affiliation, may provide a benefit to the user. Forexample, if the affiliation game unit is a military general, use of theaffiliation game unit being a military general may provide a benefit tothe member in battles against other users. Other users, against whichthe affiliation game unit is used, may be users not being part of theaffiliation.

The affiliation game unit may provide a benefit when the users areengaged in individual endeavors. The affiliation game unit may provide abenefit when the users are engaged in affiliation-based endeavors.Individual ones of the affiliation game units may be provided to theindividual members of the affiliation when awarded to the affiliationmembers. One affiliation game unit may be awarded to the affiliationmembers providing a benefit to the affiliation individually and/or as awhole.

The affiliation game unit may be controllable by users of theaffiliation within the online game. For example, both the first user andthe second user may control the affiliation game unit by virtue of theirinclusion in the first affiliation. The affiliation game unit may becontrollable by individual ones of the discrete group of users. Theaffiliation game unit may be controllable by only one of the individualones of the discrete group of users during any given time period. Inother implementations, the affiliation game unit may be controllable mymultiple ones of the discrete group of users during any given timeperiod. The individual ones of the discrete group of users in the givenaffiliation that are able to control the one or more affiliation gameunits may have a relationship having a functional significance with theother users of the discrete group of users in the given affiliation. Theindividual ones of the discrete group of users in the given affiliationable to control a given affiliation game unit may include users havingan indication of a priority for controlling the given affiliation gameunit.

The affiliation game unit may not be controllable by the members of theaffiliation and instead may be provided to the members of theaffiliation and the members of the affiliation may receive a benefit byvirtue of the affiliation game unit being provided to them. Theaffiliation game unit may be upgraded such that users may provideadditional virtual items to increase the level values of the benefitmetrics and/or provide additional virtual items to increase the numberand/or type of the benefit metrics.

The perceived value of the virtual items required of the users toupgrade the affiliation game unit may increase as the perceived benefitof the level value of the benefit metrics and/or the perceived benefitof the benefit metrics increase.

The offer component may be configured to effectuate presentation ofoffers to the users having a given affiliation. The offers may include anotification to the user having a given affiliation to provide one ormore virtual items to increase a benefit level and/or the benefit typeof the one or more benefit metrics of a given affiliation unitassociated with the affiliation. For example, a first offer may beprovided to the users of the first affiliation to provide one or morevirtual items in exchange for increasing the first benefit level of thefirst benefit metric of the first affiliation unit associated with thefirst affiliation.

The offer component may be configured to effectuate presentation ofoffers to the users having a given affiliation to purchase one or morevirtual items for increasing a benefit level and/or benefit type of theone or more benefit metrics of the given affiliation game characterassociated with the given affiliation.

The offers may also include offers to upgrade the affiliation virtualunits, such that the offer component may be configured to provide offersto increase the level values of benefit metrics and/or modify thebenefit metric type provided by a given affiliation game unit.

The virtual items requested from the users in exchange for theaffiliation game units may include one or more of resources obtained inthe virtual space, attacking troop units, defensive troop units, virtualitems obtained in the virtual space, virtual items purchased from a gameshop, and/or virtual currency. Virtual currency may take any form, suchas coins, experience points, gems, precious stones, precious metals,game items, game units, virtual realms, virtual buildings, and/or othervirtual items having a perceived value in the virtual space and/oronline game.

The distribution component may be configured to provide the affiliationgame units in response to the users having a given affiliation acceptingthe offer. The distribution component may be configured to provide theaffiliation game unit upon the occurrence of one or more of the eventsdescribed above with respect to the number, amount, threshold, or othermeasurement of users accepting the offer. For example, the distributioncomponent may be configured to provide the affiliation game unit to oneor more members having a given affiliation in response to the number ofusers accepting the offer exceeding a threshold number of user,exceeding an obtained number of users, or exceeding an obtainedpercentage of users of the affiliation accepting the offer.

The notification component may be configured to provide notifications tousers of the affiliation indicating the offer for the affiliation gameunit. The notification component may be configured to providenotifications top the members of a given affiliation giving anindication of the number, percentage, and/or proportion of users in agiven affiliation that have accepted the offer. The notificationcomponent may provide messages to users providing encouragement toaccept the offer. The notification component may facilitate identifying,to affiliation members, those users who have accepted the offer and/orthose users who have not accepted the offer. The notification componentmay provide notifications giving an indication of how close to anacceptance threshold the members of the affiliation are at. Where theoffer includes an offer for affiliation members to provide anaccumulative amount of virtual currency and/or virtual items in exchangefor being provided an affiliation game unit, the notification componentmay provide a notification giving an indication of the amount of virtualcurrency and/or virtual items collectively provided by the affiliationmembers and/or how much virtual currency and/or virtual items arerequired from the affiliation members to receive the affiliation gameunit, and/or upgrade the affiliation game unit.

These and other features, and characteristics of the present technology,as well as the methods of operation and functions of the relatedelements of structure and the combination of parts and economies ofmanufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of thefollowing description and the appended claims with reference to theaccompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification,wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in thevarious figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that thedrawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only andare not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. As usedin the specification and in the claims, the singular form of “a”, “an”,and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictatesotherwise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a system for providing virtual items to users of avirtual space, in accordance with one or more implementations;

FIG. 2 illustrates an interface for providing views of affiliation gameunits associated with a user's affiliation, in accordance with one ormore implementations;

FIG. 3 illustrates an interface for providing offers to users having anaffiliation for affiliation game units, in accordance with one or moreimplementations;

FIG. 4 illustrates an interface for providing offers to users having anaffiliation for upgrading affiliation game units, in accordance with oneor more implementations;

FIG. 5 illustrates an interface for providing offers to users having anaffiliation for upgrading affiliation game units, in accordance with oneor more implementations;

FIG. 6 illustrates a method for providing virtual items to users of anonline game, in accordance with one or more implementations;

FIG. 7 illustrates a method for providing offers to users to obtainaffiliation game units, in accordance with one or more implementations;and,

FIG. 8 illustrates a method for determining an upgrade for affiliationgame units, in accordance with one or more implementations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a system 100 for providing virtual items to users ofa virtual space, in accordance with one or more implementations.Providing the virtual space may include hosting the virtual space over anetwork. In some implementations, system 100 may include a server 105.The server 105 may be configured to communicate with one or more clientcomputing platforms 110 according to a client/server architecture. Theusers may access system 100 and/or the virtual space via clientcomputing platforms 110. In some implementations, the system may includesecondary servers 115 configured to provide one or more additionalfunctionalities to system 100. The secondary servers 115 may beconfigured to communicate with server(s) 105, client computing platforms110, and/or other elements. The secondary server(s) 115 may beconfigured to interface with server 105 to supplement the functionalityprovided to the users with respect to the virtual space. For example,secondary server(s) 115 may interface with server 105 via one or moreapplication programming interfaces.

The server 105 may include one or more computer processors 160configured by machine-readable instructions to perform one or morefunctions. The machine-readable instructions may be thought ofconceptually as components of the machine-readable instructions.However, this application includes all forms of machine-readableinstructions, whether provided in component form or otherwise. Theserver 105 may be configured to execute one or more computer programcomponents. The computer program components may include one or more of aspace component 125, a user component 130, a relationship component 135,a virtual item component 140, an offer component 145, a distributioncomponent 155, a notification component 150, and/or other components.

The space component 125 may facilitate participation by multiple usersin an online game through client computing platforms associated with theusers. The space component 125 may be configured to execute an instanceof the online game to facilitate presentation of the online game to theusers. The game module may be configured to implement in-game actions inthe instance of the online game in response to actions requests for thein-game actions from the users. The space component 125 may beconfigured to facilitate user participation in the online game byeffectuating transmission of information related to the instance of theonline game to client computing platforms on which views of the onlinegame are presented to users. The users may include a first user and asecond user.

The space component 125 may be configured to implement the instance ofthe virtual space executed by the computer components to determine thestate of the virtual space. The state may then be communicated (e.g.,via streaming visual data, via object/position data, and/or other stateinformation) from server 105 to client computing platforms 110 forpresentation to users. The state determined and transmitted to a givenclient computing platform 110 may correspond to a view for a usercharacter being controlled by a user via the given client computingplatform 110. The state determined and transmitted to a given clientcomputing platform 110 may correspond to a location in the virtualspace. The view described by the state for the given client computingplatform may correspond, for example, to the location from which theview is taken, the location the view depicts and/or other locations, azoom ratio, a dimensionality of objects, a point-of-view, and/or viewparameters of the view. One or more of the view parameters may beselectable by the user.

The instance of the virtual space may comprise a simulated space that isaccessible by users via clients (e.g., client computing platforms 110)that present the views of the virtual space to a user. The simulatedspace may have a topography, express ongoing real-time interaction byone or more users, and/or include one or more objects positioned withinthe topography that are capable of locomotion within the topography. Insome instances, the topography may be a 2-dimensional topography. Inother instances, the topography may be a 3-dimensional topography. Thetopography may include dimensions of the space and/or surface featuresof a surface or objects that are “native” to the space. In someinstances, the topography may describe a surface (e.g., a groundsurface) that runs through at least a substantial portion of the space.In some instances, the topography may describe a volume with one or morebodies positioned therein (e.g., a simulation of gravity-deprived spacewith one or more celestial bodies positioned therein). The instanceexecuted by the computer components may be synchronous, asynchronous,and/or semi-synchronous.

The above description of the manner in which state of the virtual spaceis determined by space component 125 is not intended to be limiting. Thespace component 125 may be configured to express the virtual space in amore limited, or more rich, manner. For example, views determined forthe virtual space representing the state of the instance of the virtualspace may be selected from a limited set of graphics depicting an eventin a given place within the virtual space. The views may includeadditional content (e.g., text, audio, pre-stored video content, and/orother content) that describes particulars of the current state of theplace, beyond the relatively generic graphics. For example, a view mayinclude a generic battle graphic with a textual description of theopponents to be confronted. Other expressions of individual placeswithin the virtual space are contemplated.

Within the instance(s) of the virtual space executed by space component125, users may control characters, objects, simulated physical phenomena(e.g., wind, rain, earthquakes, and/or other phenomena), and/or otherelements within the virtual space to interact with the virtual spaceand/or each other. The user characters may include avatars. As usedherein, the term “user character” may refer to an object (or group ofobjects) present in the virtual space that represents an individualuser. The user character may be controlled by the user with which it isassociated. The user-controlled element(s) may move through and interactwith the virtual space (e.g., non-user characters in the virtual space,other objects in the virtual space). The user-controlled elementscontrolled by and/or associated with a given user may be created and/orcustomized by the given user. The user may have an “inventory” ofvirtual goods and/or currency that the user can use (e.g., bymanipulation of a user character or other user-controlled element,and/or other items) within the virtual space.

The users may participate in the instance of the virtual space bycontrolling one or more of the available user-controlled elements in thevirtual space. Control may be exercised through control inputs and/orcommands input by the users through client computing platforms 110. Theusers may interact with each other through communications exchangedwithin the virtual space. Such communications may include one or more oftextual chat, instant messages, private messages, voice communications,and/or other communications. Communications may be received and enteredby the users via their respective client computing platforms 110.Communications may be routed to and from the appropriate users throughserver 105 (e.g., through space component 125).

The instance of the virtual space and/or the game that takes placetherein may be persistent. That is, the virtual space and/or the gamemay continue on whether or not individual players are currently loggedin and/or participating in the game. A player that logs out of thevirtual space and then logs back in some time later may find that thevirtual space has been changed through the interactions of other playerswith the virtual space during the time the player was logged out. Thesechanges may include changes to the simulated physical space, changes inthe player's inventory, changes in other player's inventories, changesexperienced by non-player characters, and/or other changes.

Interactive electronic social media may include one or more of a socialnetwork, a virtual space, a micro-blogging service, a blog service (orhost), a browser-based game, a multi-player mobile game, a file (e.g.,image file, video file, and/or other files) sharing service, a messagingservice, a message board, a forum, and/or other electronicallydistributed media that are scalable and enable interaction between theusers. Some non-limiting specific examples of interactive electronicsocial media may include the micro-blogging service provided byTwitter™, the social network provided by Facebook™, the social networkprovided by MySpace™, the social network provided by Foursquare®, thevirtual world provided by Second Life®, the massively multi-playeronline game provided by World of Warcraft®, the file sharing serviceprovided by Flickr®, Blogger, YouTube, PlayStation® Home, Xbox® Live,and/or other interactive electronic social media.

The user component 130 may be configured to access and/or manage one ormore user profiles and/or user information associated with users of thesystem 100. The one or more user profiles and/or user information mayinclude information stored by server 105, one or more of the clientcomputing platforms 110, and/or other storage locations. The userprofiles may include, for example, information identifying users (e.g.,a username or handle, a number, an identifier, and/or other identifyinginformation) within the virtual space, security login information (e.g.,a login code or password), virtual space account information,subscription information, virtual currency account information (e.g.,related to currency held in credit for a user), relationship information(e.g., information related to relationships between users in the virtualspace), virtual space usage information, demographic informationassociated with users, interaction history among users in the virtualspace, information stated by users, purchase information of users,browsing history of users, a client computing platform identificationassociated with a user, a phone number associated with a user, and/orother information related to users.

The relationship component 135 may be configured to establishrelationships between users within the virtual space. Such relationshipsmay include one or more of affiliation, friendships, guilds (withguild-mates), alliances, connections, followers, comrades, teams,cooperatives, and/or other relationships. The relationship component 135may establish relationships based on relationship requests andacceptances received from users. Establishment of a relationship may beinitiated by a single communication (e.g., a request) initiated by agiven user requesting a relationship between the given user and one ormore other users. Establishment of a relationship may require a firstcommunication from the given user to be approved by the one or moreother users. Relationships may include one or more types ofrelationships that have a functional purpose or impact within thevirtual space, and/or one or more types of relationships that a socialconstruct within the virtual space does not have a functional result.

The relationship component 135 may be configured to manage one or moreaffiliations within the online game. A given affiliation within theonline game may comprise a discrete group of users with a relationshiphaving a functional significance within the online game. Therelationship having a functional significance in the online game mayimpact in-game play for the users. The affiliations may comprise a firstaffiliation within a first online game between a group of usersincluding the first user and the second user. The relationship having afunctional significance may include one or more of a leadership role, acontroller role, a mentorship role, and/or an administrator role.

The system may further comprise an interaction component. Theinteraction component may be configured to monitor interactions of theusers with the virtual space and/or each other within the virtual space.This may include monitoring, for a given user, one or more of times atwhich the given user is logged in to the virtual space; areas of thevirtual space the given user views or interacts with or in; other usersthe given user interacts with; the nature and/or content of interactionsof the given user with other users; activities participated in withinthe virtual space; level, powers, or skill attained in the virtualspace; inventory items obtained in the virtual space; and/or otherinteractions of the given user with the virtual space and/or otherusers. Some or all of the information generated by the interactioncomponent in monitoring the interactions of the users may be stored tothe user profiles managed by user component 130.

At a given time, the interaction component may determine a set of usersthat are currently engaged with the virtual space and/or a set of usersthat are currently not engaged with the virtual space. Being engagedwith the virtual space may refer to being logged in to the virtualspace, performing some action or interaction within the virtual spacewithin some period of time (e.g., the last 2 minutes), and/or takingsome other action indicating ongoing and contemporaneous engagement withthe virtual space.

The interaction component may be configured to determine, for individualusers, an activity metric that indicates an activity level within thevirtual space. The activity metric may be determined based on one ormore of log-in frequency, amount of time logged in to the virtual spacewithin a rolling time period (e.g., over the last day, week, month, orother rolling time period), average amount of time logged in to thevirtual space over some length of time (e.g., per day, per week, and/orother length of time), average log-in session time over a rolling timeperiod, number of inter-user communications over a length of time,number of inter-user communications per log-in, number of relationshipswith other users in the virtual space, number of new relationships withother users in the virtual space within a rolling time period, amount ofreal world money spent in the virtual space, and/or other activityparameters.

The virtual item component 140 may be configured to provide affiliationgame units associated with affiliations within the online game. Theaffiliation game units may be, for example, game characters, realmsassociated with the affiliation, buildings providing a benefit to users,weapons associated with the affiliation, vehicles associated with theaffiliation, symbolic virtual items associated with the affiliation,and/or other virtual items. The affiliation game units may becontrollable in the online game by individual ones of the users in theaffiliations with which they are associated. The affiliation game unitsmay include a first affiliation game unit associated with the firstaffiliation.

Referring to FIG. 2, disclosed is an affiliation game unit interface200. The affiliation game unit interface 200 may be configured toeffectuate presentation of information about the affiliation game unitsavailable to members of the affiliation. The affiliation game unitinterface 200 may include a number of tabs 202 associated with differentaspects of the virtual space. For example, in a game operated in thevirtual space, the game may include activities and virtual itemsassociated with attacking, or defending against attack from, otherusers' game characters, realms, and/or virtual items. The game mayinclude activities and virtual items associated with attacking, ordefending against attack from non-player characters, realms, and/orvirtual items. The game may include activities associated with growingresources, making resources, and/or developing industries, generatingresources, and/or other activities. There may be any number of tabs 202associated with any number of aspects of the virtual space. A use rassociated with an affiliation may access the affiliation game unitinterface 200 to view the attributes and/or benefits of the affiliationgame unit for the game activity. There may be multiple affiliation gameunits for each category type, or sub-category type, of activityexperienced by users in an online game conducted in a virtual space.

An affiliation game unit may be associated with a user's attackingand/or defensive actions, such an affiliation game unit may be amilitary type affiliation game unit 204. The military affiliation gameunit 204 may take an appearance associated with military activities,such as a knight, soldier, general, sailor, admiral, and/or otherappearances. The appearance of the affiliation game unit 204 may bebased on a faction, affiliation, race, and/or other characteristics of auser's game character.

The affiliation game units 204 may include one or more benefit metrics206, wherein the benefit metrics indicate a benefit received by theaffiliation members from the affiliation game unit 204. The benefitmetrics 206 may relate to the activity associated with the affiliationgame unit 204. For example, the benefit metrics 206 of the militaryaffiliation game unit 204 may be associated with military-type actions.Such military-type benefit metrics 206 may include attack strength,defense strength, attack speed, fatigue, cohesion, effectiveness,brutality, skill, and/or other military-type benefit metrics. Thebenefit metrics 206 may have associated level values. The benefitmetrics 206 may comprise level values, indicating a level of the benefitindicated by the benefit metric. For example, the higher the level valueof a benefit metric, the more benefit is provided to the users of theaffiliation. The level values associated with the benefit metrics 206may be presented in the affiliation game unit interface 200 by levelvalue bars 208 associated with each level, the more benefit is providedto the users of the affiliation.

In some implementations, there may be multiple level values for thebenefit metrics of an affiliation game unit. One method contemplated forupgrading affiliation game units, by affiliation members, is to permitthe affiliation members, individually or collectively, to increase thebenefits provided by the affiliation game units. The benefits may beincreased individually, such that for an affiliation game unit thatprovides multiple benefits to the users of the affiliation, the valuelevel of each benefit metric of the affiliation game unity may beincreased independently of all other benefit metrics.

In some implementations, the graphical bars 208 may provide anindication of how close the affiliation members are to obtaining thenext level value of each benefit metric provided by the affiliation gameunit. In the example, shown in FIG. 2, the alliance members may be muchcloser to obtaining the next level value for the fatigue benefit metric,compared to the brutality level metric. In other implementations, thegraphical bars 208 may represent the level value of the benefit metrics.In such implementations, the graphical bar associated with the fatiguebenefit metric may move further to the left as the affiliation game unit204 is upgraded, whereas the graphical bars associated with the otherbenefit metrics may move further to the right when the affiliation gameunit 204 is upgraded.

The types of benefit metrics provided by the affiliation game units arenot limited to the disclosure herein, nor to those disclosed in theFigures. Affiliation game units may provide benefits to members of analliance with which the affiliation game units are associated for anymanner of activities, events, and/or actions within the virtual space.In some implementations, the benefit metrics may reflect, but not belimited to, increased stamina, cohesion, effectiveness, brutality,speed, power, and/or other parameters for users' armed forces within thegame. The benefit metrics may reflect, but not be limited to, increasedproduction, yield, effectiveness, multiplication, and/or otherparameters for users' resources within the online game. The benefitmetrics may reflect, but not be limited to, a benefit over other membersof different affiliations. The benefit metrics may reflect increasedresponsiveness of the virtual space environment to users of theaffiliation. The benefit metrics may reflect, but not be limited to,availability of game elements, such as quests, missions, map areas,and/or other game elements within the virtual space. The benefit metricsmay reflect, but not be limited to, a multiplier for users of anaffiliation when users are purchasing virtual currency to use in thevirtual space. The benefit metrics may reflect, but not be limited to, adiscount when purchasing in-game items by users of the affiliation.

The offer component 145 may be configured to effectuate presentation ofoffers to the users having a given affiliation for affiliation gameunits. The offers may include a first offer of a first affiliation gameunit. The offers may include a user cost associated with the offer, suchthat the first offer is for a first affiliation game unit in exchangefor a first associated user cost. The offers may include a notificationto the user having a given affiliation to provide one or more virtualitems to increase a benefit level and/or the benefit type of the one ormore benefit metrics of a given affiliation game unit associated withthe affiliation. For example, a first offer may be provided to the usersof the first affiliation to provide one or more virtual items inexchange for increasing the first benefit level of the first benefitmetric of the first affiliation unit associated with the firstaffiliation.

The affiliation game unit may be a game unit which, when used by amember of the affiliation, may provide a benefit to the user. Forexample, if the affiliation game unit is a military general, use of theaffiliation game unit being a military general may provide a benefit tothe member in battles against other users. Other users, against whichthe affiliation game unit is used, may be users not being part of theaffiliation.

The affiliation game unit may provide a benefit when the users areengaged in individual endeavors. The affiliation game unit may provide abenefit when the users are engaged in affiliation-based endeavors.Individual ones of the affiliation game units may be provided to theindividual members of the affiliation when awarded to the affiliationmembers. One affiliation game unit may be awarded to the affiliationmembers providing a benefit to the affiliation individually and/or as awhole.

The affiliation game unit may be controllable by users of theaffiliation within the online game. For example, both the first user andthe second user may control the affiliation game unit by virtue of theirinclusion in the first affiliation. The affiliation unit may becontrollable by individual ones of the discrete group of users. Theindividual ones of the discrete group of users in the given affiliationthat are able to control the one or more affiliation game units may havea relationship having a functional significance with the other users ofthe discrete group of users in the given affiliation. The individualones of the discrete group of users in the given affiliation able tocontrol a given affiliation game unit may include users having anindication of a priority for controlling the given affiliation gameunit.

The affiliation game unit may not be controllable by the members of theaffiliation and instead may be provided to the members of theaffiliation, and the members of the affiliation may receive a benefit byvirtue of the affiliation game unit being provided to them. Theaffiliation game unit may be upgraded such that users may provideadditional virtual items to increase the level values of the benefitmetrics, and/or provide additional virtual items to increase the numberand/or type of the benefit metrics.

The offer component 145 may be configured to effectuate presentation ofoffers to the users having a given affiliation to purchase one or morevirtual items for increasing a benefit level and/or benefit type of theone or more benefit metrics of the given affiliation game characterassociated with the given affiliation. The notification component may beconfigured to provide notifications to users of the affiliationindicating the offer for the affiliation game unit. The notificationcomponent may be configured to provide notifications to the members of agiven affiliation giving an indication of the number, percentage, and/orproportion of users in a given affiliation that have accepted the offer.The notification component may provide messages to users providingencouragement to accept the offer. The notification component 150 mayfacilitate identifying, to affiliation members, those users who haveaccepted the offer and/or those users who have not accepted the offer.The notification component may provide notifications giving anindication of how close the members of the affiliation are to anacceptance threshold. Where the offer includes an offer for affiliationmembers to provide an accumulative amount of virtual currency and/orvirtual items in exchange for being provided an affiliation game unit,the notification component may provide a notification giving anindication of the amount of virtual currency and/or virtual itemscollectively provided by the affiliation members and/or how much virtualcurrency and/or virtual items are required from the affiliation membersto receive the affiliation game unit, and/or upgrade the affiliationgame unit.

Referring to FIG. 3, illustrated is an interface 300 for providingoffers 302 to users having an affiliation for affiliation game units, inaccordance with one or more implementations. The offer 302 may be toobtain an affiliation game unit 304 for the users having an associatedaffiliation. The interface 300 may be configured to effectuatepresentation of the offer 302 to users through associated clientcomputing platforms 110 (as shown in FIG. 1). The interface 300 maypresent a title 306 and/or notification to the users providing anindication of the identity of the affiliation game unit 304 that will beobtained by enough users of the affiliation accepting the offer 302. Theinterface 300 may facilitate presentation of a progress notification308, providing an indication of the number and/or amount of users of theaffiliation who have so far accepted the offer 302. The interface 300may facilitate presentation of a notification 308, providing anindication of the number and/or amount of users of the affiliationrequired to accept the offer before the users associated with theaffiliation will be provided with the affiliation game unit 304.

The interface 300 may provide an indication of one or more benefitmetrics 310 associated with the offered affiliation game unit 304. Theone or more benefit metrics 310 may be associated with benefits providedto the users having an affiliation once the users accept the offer 302.The interface 300 may effectuate presentation of level values 312 of thebenefit metrics 310 associated with the affiliation game unit 304. Theinterface 300 may effectuate presentation of an indication to the usersof the associated user cost 314 that the user having the affiliationmust provide to accept the offer 302. In some implementations, the firstoffer 302 may comprise a first associated user cost 316. The firstassociated user cost 316 may comprise multiple virtual items that theuser is required to provide in order to accept the first offer 302. Insome implementations, the user may be required to provide quantities ofthe different virtual items required of the user to accept the offer302. In some implementations, the user may be required to select whichof the quantities of virtual items 320 the user will provide to acceptthe offer. In the example, shown in FIG. 3, the first associated usercost 314 comprises either one thousand five hundred Aetherstones or oneSpecial Gem. In some implementations, for users who do not wish toprovide the requested virtual items, the users may provide differentvirtual items, such as currency. Such currency may be in the form ofprecious metal, gems 322, credits 324, and/or other virtual currencies.The interface 300 may include one or more user-selectable buttons 326configured to facilitate acceptance or rejection of the offer by theuser. The interface 300 may comprise other user-selectable buttonsand/or user-enterable fields. The interface 300 may be configured tofacilitate the user selecting and/or entering the types and quantitiesof the virtual items associated with the user cost associated with theoffer 302. In some implementations the virtual items of the associatedcost will be set, and the user will have to provide the set virtualitems associated with the user cost of the offer.

The virtual item component 140 may be configured to increase a levelvalue of one or more benefit metrics of the affiliation game units. Thevirtual item component 140 may increase the level value of the one ormore benefit metrics in response to the users in the affiliationsproviding one or more virtual items. For example, a first level value ofa first benefit metric of the first affiliation game unit may beincreased in response to the first user providing one or more virtualitems. The first level value of a first benefit metric of the firstaffiliation game unit may be increased in response to the first user andthe second user providing one or more virtual items.

FIG. 4 illustrates an interface 400 for providing offers to users havingan affiliation for upgrading affiliation game units 406, in accordancewith one or more implementations. The upgrade interface 400 may comprisean offer 402 for upgrading affiliation game units possessed by membersof the affiliation. The upgrade interface 400 may comprise an indicationof the benefit metrics 408 of the affiliation game unit 406. The upgradeinterface 400 may facilitate presentation of an indication of thecurrent level value of the benefit metrics 408 and may facilitatepresentation of an indication of the level value of the benefit metrics408 after acceptance of the offer 402 by the user. For example, theupgrade interface 400 may facilitate presentation of a first set oflevel values 410 for the benefit metrics 408 of the affiliation gameunit 408, and of a second set of level values 412 for the benefitmetrics 408 of the affiliation game unit 408, wherein the second set oflevel values 412 indicate the level values of the benefit metrics 408after the upgrade offer 402 is accepted by the users.

The upgrade offer 402 may include an associated user cost to accept theupgrade offer. The upgrade interface 400 may facilitate presentation ofthe associated user cost 414 for accepting the offer, as describedabove. The upgrade interface 400 may facilitate selection and/or entryby the user of an indication that the user intends to make a purchase ofvirtual items so that the user has sufficient virtual items to meet therequirements of the offer. For example, the upgrade interface 400 mayinclude a user-selectable button 416 which will launch a virtual shopfor facilitating the purchase of in-game virtual items. The user may beable to accept the offer to upgrade the affiliation game unit byproviding a virtual currency, real currency, and/or other currencyinstead of providing the required virtual items. The virtual itemsrequired to be provided by the users to accept the upgrade offer 402, orany offer, may relate to the affiliation game unit associated with theoffer. Where the affiliation game unit is a military-type affiliationgame unit, the members of the affiliation may be required to providemilitary-type virtual items in order to accept the offer. Where theaffiliation game unit is an industrial-type affiliation game unit, themembers of the affiliation may be required to provide industrial-typevirtual items in order to accept the offer. The upgrade interface 400may include a user-selectable button 418 to accept or reject the upgradeoffer 412.

The amount of increase of the level value of the one or more benefitmetrics may be based on the amount of users having the given affiliationthat provide one or more virtual items to upgrade the affiliation gameunit. The amount of increase of the level value of the one or morebenefit metrics of the affiliation game item may be based on theproportion of the user having a given affiliation that has provided oneor more virtual items to upgrade the affiliation game unit. The amountof increase of the level value of the one or more benefit metrics of theaffiliation game item may be based on the number of users having a givenaffiliation that have provided one or more virtual items to upgrade theaffiliation game unit, exceeding one or more thresholds. The amount ofincrease of the level value of the one or more benefit metrics of theaffiliation game item may be based on the cumulative value of thevirtual items provided by the users having a given affiliation toupgrade the affiliation game unit.

The one or more benefit metrics of the one or more affiliation gameunits may have one or more discrete benefit level values, and thevirtual item component 140 may be configured to promote the one or morebenefit metrics from a first benefit level value to a second benefitlevel value in response to a threshold amount of the users having agiven affiliation providing a threshold amount of one or more virtualitems to promote the one or more affiliation character units. Theupgrade offer 402 may include an offer to upgrade all of the benefitmetrics 408 of the associated affiliation game unit 406. The upgradeoffer 402 may include an offer to upgrade individual ones of the benefitmetrics 408 of the associated affiliation game unit 406. The upgradeoffer 402 may include an offer to increase the number and/or type of thebenefit metrics 408 provided to the user of the affiliation. The upgradeoffer 402 may include an offer to modify and/or change the benefitmetrics 408 of the affiliation game unit 406.

FIG. 5 illustrates an interface 500 for providing offers 502 to usershaving an affiliation for upgrading affiliation game units 504, inaccordance with one or more implementations. The upgrade offer 500provided to the members of an affiliation may be an offer to upgrade theaffiliation game unit 504 in exchange for the members of the affiliationcumulatively providing an amount of virtual items. FIG. 3 illustrates aninterface 300 where the offer to receive the affiliation game unit 304had to be accepted by a certain amount of the affiliation members. FIG.5 illustrates an interface 500 where the offer to upgrade theaffiliation game unit 504 requires a cumulative amount 506 of virtualitems to be provided by the members of the affiliation. The cumulativeamount 506 of virtual items may be provided by as few as one of theaffiliation members. The upgrade interface 500 may facilitatepresentation of the progress toward the required cumulative amount 506of virtual items required to receive the upgrade of the affiliation gameunit 504. The upgrade interface 500 may facilitate selection and/orentry 508 by the user of an amount of the required virtual item that theuser wishes to provide to the cumulative total. The upgrade interface500 may effectuate presentation of the selected and/or entered amount510 of the required virtual item and the amount 512 of the requiredvirtual item that the user has in his or her inventory. The upgradeinterface 500 may effectuate presentation and facilitate interactionwith one or more user-selectable buttons 514 configured to facilitatethe acceptance or rejection of the upgrade offer 502.

The perceived value of the virtual items required of the users toupgrade the affiliation game unit may increase as the perceived benefitof the level value of the benefit metrics and/or the perceived benefitof the benefit metrics increase.

The virtual items requested from the users in exchange for theaffiliation game units may include one or more of resources obtained inthe virtual space, attacking troop units, defensive troop units, virtualitems obtained in the virtual space, virtual items purchased from a gameshop, and/or virtual currency. Virtual currency may take any form, suchas coins, experience points, gems, precious stones, precious metals,game items, game units, virtual realms, virtual buildings, and/or othervirtual items having a perceived value in the virtual space and/oronline game.

The distribution component 155 may be configured to provide theaffiliation game units in response to the users having a givenaffiliation accepting the offer. The distribution component 155 may beconfigured to provide the affiliation game unit upon the occurrence ofone or more of the events described above with respect to the number,amount, threshold, or other measurement of users accepting the offer.For example, the distribution component 155 may be configured to providethe affiliation game unit to one or more members having a givenaffiliation in response to the number of users accepting the offerexceeding a threshold number of users, exceeding an obtained number ofusers, or exceeding an obtained percentage of users of the affiliationaccepting the offer.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the server 105, client computing platforms110, secondary servers 115, and/or external resources 120 may beoperatively linked via one or more electronic communication links. Forexample, such electronic communication links may be established, atleast in part, via a network such as the Internet and/or other networks.It will be appreciated that this is not intended to be limiting, andthat the scope of this disclosure includes implementations in whichservers 105, client computing platforms 110, and/or external resources120 may be operatively linked via some other communication media. Theprocessors 160 may be configured to execute computer program components.The processors 160 may be configured to execute the computer programcomponents via one or more of hardware, software, and/or firmware.Although system 100 may be described in certain sections herein asincluding secondary servers 115, this is not intended to be limiting.The secondary servers 115 may be separate and distinct from system 100,and may be provided by an entity that is separate from, for example, theentity providing secondary servers 115. In some implementations, thefunctionality attributed herein to the server 105, client computingplatforms 110, secondary servers 115, and one or more other elements maybe provided by any of the elements.

A given client computing platform 110 may include one or more processorsconfigured to execute computer program components. The computer programcomponents may be configured to enable an expert or user associated withthe given client computing platform 110 to interface with system 100and/or external resources 120, and/or provide other functionalityattributed herein to client computing platforms 110. By way ofnon-limiting example, the given client computing platform 110 mayinclude one or more of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a handheldcomputer, a tablet computing platform, a NetBook, a Smartphone, a gamingconsole, and/or other computing platforms.

The external resources 120 may include sources of information, hostsand/or providers of virtual environments outside of system 100, externalentities participating with system 100, and/or other resources. In someimplementations, some or all of the functionality attributed herein toexternal resources 120 may be provided by resources included in system100.

The server 105 may include electronic storage 165, one or moreprocessors 160, and/or other components. The server 105 may includecommunication lines, or ports to enable the exchange of information witha network and/or other computing platforms. Illustration of server 105in FIG. 1 is not intended to be limiting. Electronic storage 165 maycomprise electronic storage media that electronically storesinformation. The electronic storage media of electronic storage 165 mayinclude one or both of system storage that is provided integrally (i.e.,substantially non-removable) with server 105 and/or removable storagethat is removably connectable to server 105 via, for example, a port(e.g., a USB port, a firewire port, etc.), or a drive (e.g., a diskdrive, etc.). Electronic storage 165 may include one or more ofoptically readable storage media (e.g., optical disks, etc.),magnetically readable storage media (e.g., magnetic tape, magnetic harddrive, floppy drive, etc.), electrical charge-based storage media (e.g.,EEPROM, RAM, etc.), solid-state storage media (e.g., flash drive, etc.),and/or other electronically readable storage media. The electronicstorage 165 may include one or more virtual storage resources (e.g.,cloud storage, a virtual private network, and/or other virtual storageresources). Electronic storage 165 may store software algorithms,information determined by processor 160, information received fromserver 105, information received from client computing platforms 110,and/or other information that enables server 105 to function asdescribed herein.

Processor(s) 160 may be configured to provide information processingcapabilities in server 105. As such, processor 160 may include one ormore of a digital processor, an analog processor, a digital circuitdesigned to process information, an analog circuit designed to processinformation, a state machine, and/or other mechanisms for electronicallyprocessing information. Although processor 160 is shown in FIG. 1 as asingle entity, this is for illustrative purposes only. In someimplementations, processor 160 may include a plurality of processingunits. These processing units may be physically located within the samedevice, or processor 160 may represent processing functionality of aplurality of devices operating in coordination. The processor 160 may beconfigured to execute components 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 150, 155,and/or other components. Processor 160 may be configured to executethese components by software; hardware; firmware; some combination ofsoftware, hardware, and/or firmware; and/or other mechanisms forconfiguring processing capabilities on processor 160.

It should be appreciated that although components 125, 130, 135, 140,145, 150, and 155 are illustrated in FIG. 1 as being co-located within asingle processing unit, in implementations in which processor 160includes multiple processing units, one or more of components 125, 130,135, 140, 145, 150, 155, and/or other components may be located remotelyfrom the other components. The description of the functionality providedby the different components 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 150, 155, and/orother components described herein is for illustrative purposes, and isnot intended to be limiting, as any of components 125, 130, 135, 140,145, 150, 155, and/or other components may provide more or lessfunctionality than is described. For example, one or more of components125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 150, 155, and/or other components may beeliminated, and some or all of its functionality may be provided byother ones of components 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 150, 155, and/or othercomponents. As another example, processor 160 may be configured toexecute one or more additional components that may perform some or allof the functionality attributed herein to one of components 125, 130,135, 140, 145, 150, 155, and/or other components.

FIG. 6 illustrates a method 600 for providing virtual items to users ofan online game, in accordance with one or more implementations. Theoperations of method 600 presented below are intended to beillustrative. In some embodiments, method 600 may be accomplished withone or more additional operations not described, and/or without one ormore of the operations discussed. Additionally, the order in which theoperations of method 600 are illustrated in FIG. 6 and described belowis not intended to be limiting.

In some embodiments, method 600 may be implemented in one or moreprocessing devices (e.g., a digital processor, an analog processor, adigital circuit designed to process information, an analog circuitdesigned to process information, a state machine, and/or othermechanisms for electronically processing information). The one or moreprocessing devices may include one or more devices executing some or allof the operations of method 600 in response to instructions storedelectronically on an electronic storage medium. The one or moreprocessing devices may include one or more devices configured throughhardware, firmware, and/or software to be specifically designed forexecution of one or more of the operations of method 600.

At an operation 602, participation by multiple users in an online gamemay be facilitated. Facilitating participation by multiple users in theonline game may be done through client computing platforms associatedwith the users. The operations at 602 may be performed by a spacecomponent, such as space component 125 shown in FIG. 1, in accordancewith one or more implementations.

At an operation 604, one or more affiliations within the online game maybe managed. The one or more affiliations may comprise a discrete groupof users with a relationship having a functional significance within theonline game that has an impact on game play, wherein the affiliationscomprise a first affiliation within a first online game between a groupof users including a first user and a second user. The relationshiphaving a functional significance may include one or more of a leadershiprole, a controller role, a mentorship role, and/or an administratorrole. The operations at 604 may be performed by a relationshipcomponent, such as relationship component 135 shown in FIG. 1, inaccordance with one or more implementations.

At an operation 606, affiliation game units associated with affiliationswithin the online game may be provided to affiliation members. Theaffiliation game units may be controllable in the online game byindividual ones of the users in the affiliations with which they areassociated. The affiliation game units may include a first affiliationgame unit associated with the first affiliation. In some implementationsthe affiliation game units may be controllable in the online game byselect individual members of the affiliation. In other implementations,the affiliation game units may be controllable by multiple members ofthe affiliation. The first affiliation game unit may be controllable byboth the first user and the second user by virtue of their inclusion inthe first affiliation. The operations at 606 may be performed by avirtual item component, such as virtual item component 140 shown in FIG.1, in accordance with one or more implementations.

At an operation 608, a level value of one or more benefit metrics of theaffiliation game units may be increased. The level values of the one ormore benefit metrics may be increased in response to the users in theaffiliations providing one or more virtual items, such that a firstlevel value of a first benefit metric of the first affiliation game unitmay be increased in response to the first user and the second userproviding one or more virtual items. The amount of increase in the levelvalue may be based on the amount of users having the given affiliationthat provide one or more virtual items to increase the level of the oneor more benefit metrics of a given affiliation unit and based on theamount of one or more virtual items provided by the users having thegiven affiliation. The operations at 608 may be performed by a virtualitem component, such as virtual item component 140 shown in FIG. 1, inaccordance with one or more implementations.

FIG. 7 illustrates a method 700 for providing offers to users to obtainaffiliation game units, in accordance with one or more implementations.The operations of method 700 presented below are intended to beillustrative. In some embodiments, method 700 may be accomplished withone or more additional operations not described, and/or without one ormore of the operations discussed. Additionally, the order in which theoperations of method 700 are illustrated in FIG. 7 and described belowis not intended to be limiting.

In some embodiments, method 700 may be implemented in one or moreprocessing devices (e.g., a digital processor, an analog processor, adigital circuit designed to process information, an analog circuitdesigned to process information, a state machine, and/or othermechanisms for electronically processing information). The one or moreprocessing devices may include one or more devices executing some or allof the operations of method 700 in response to instructions storedelectronically on an electronic storage medium. The one or moreprocessing devices may include one or more devices configured throughhardware, firmware, and/or software to be specifically designed forexecution of one or more of the operations of method 700.

At an operation 702, presentation of offers may be effectuated to theusers having a given affiliation, wherein the offers include providingone or more virtual items to increase a benefit level of the one or morebenefit metrics of the given affiliation unit associated with the givenaffiliation. An offer may be provided to the users of the firstaffiliation to provide one or more virtual items for increasing thefirst benefit level of the first benefit metric of the first affiliationunit associated with the first affiliation. In some implementations, atan operation 702, the offers may include providing one or moreaffiliation game units to users having a given affiliation. The offersto the users having a given affiliation may include offers to purchaseone or more virtual items in exchange for increasing the benefit levelof the one or more benefit metrics of the given affiliation gamecharacter associated with the given affiliation. The operations at 702may be performed by an offer component, such as offer component 145shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with one or more implementations.

At an operation 704, acceptance of the offers to the users having theaffiliation may be received. The operations at 704 may be performed byan offer component, such as offer component 145 shown in FIG. 1, inaccordance with one or more implementations.

At an operation 706, determination of whether a threshold number ofaffiliation members have accepted the offer may be made. The thresholdnumber of affiliation members may be a number of members, a percentageof members, a threshold of members, and/or other measurements of theproportion of members who have accepted the offer to obtain and/orupgrade the affiliation game unit. The operations at 704 may beperformed by an offer component, such as offer component 145 shown inFIG. 1, in accordance with one or more implementations. The operationsat 706 may be performed by an offer component, such as offer component145 shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with one or more implementations.

In response to determining that the number of affiliation members whohave accepted the offer has not breached the threshold, at an operation708, presentation of the offer to obtain the affiliation game unit toaffiliation members may be effectuated. In some implementations,notifications to members who have not accepted the offer may beeffectuated, wherein the notifications provide encouragement to users toaccept the offer. The operations at 708 may be performed by an offercomponent and/or a notification component, such as offer component 145and/or notification component 150 shown in FIG. 1, in accordance withone or more implementations.

In response to determining that the number of affiliation members whohave accepted the offer has not breached the threshold, at an operation710, presentation of notifications to members of the affiliation whohave accepted the offer may be effectuated. The notifications mayprovide an indication of the identity of the affiliation members whohave not accepted the offer. The notifications may provide an indicationthat the members who have accepted the offer encourage those who havenot accepted the offer to do so. The operations at 710 may be performedby an a notification component, such as notification component 150 shownin FIG. 1, in accordance with one or more implementations.

In response to determining that the number of affiliation members whohave accepted the offer has breached the threshold, at an operation 712,the affiliation game unit and/or the upgrade to the affiliation gameunit may be provided to members of the affiliation. The operations at712 may be performed by an a distribution component, such asdistribution component 155 shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with one ormore implementations.

FIG. 8 illustrates a method 800 for determining an upgrade foraffiliation game units, in accordance with one or more implementations.The operations of method 800 presented below are intended to beillustrative. In some embodiments, method 800 may be accomplished withone or more additional operations not described, and/or without one ormore of the operations discussed. Additionally, the order in which theoperations of method 800 are illustrated in FIG. 8 and described belowis not intended to be limiting.

In some embodiments, method 800 may be implemented in one or moreprocessing devices (e.g., a digital processor, an analog processor, adigital circuit designed to process information, an analog circuitdesigned to process information, a state machine, and/or othermechanisms for electronically processing information). The one or moreprocessing devices may include one or more devices executing some or allof the operations of method 800 in response to instructions storedelectronically on an electronic storage medium. The one or moreprocessing devices may include one or more devices configured throughhardware, firmware, and/or software to be specifically designed forexecution of one or more of the operations of method 800.

At an operation 802, a time period may be obtained during which theoffer to provide and/or upgrade one or more affiliation game units is tobe provided to members of an affiliation. The operations performed atthe operation 802 may be performed by an offer component, such as offercomponent 145 shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with one or moreimplementations.

At an operation 804, presentation of the offer may be facilitated tomembers of the affiliation, responsive to an indication that the timeperiod, obtained at the operation 802, has commenced. The operationsperformed at the operation 804 may be performed by an offer component,such as offer component 145 shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with one ormore implementations.

At an operation 806, presentation of the offer may be ceased, responsiveto an indication that the time period, obtained at the operation 802,expiring. The operations performed at the operation 806 may be performedby an offer component, such as offer component 145 shown in FIG. 1, inaccordance with one or more implementations.

At an operation 808, determination of a level and/or type of anaffiliation game unit or a level and/or type of upgrade to anaffiliation game unit may be made. The determination made at theoperation 808 may be based on the amount of affiliation members whoaccepted the offer during the time period. For example, where a largeproportion of the affiliation members accepted the offer, the level/typeof the affiliation game unit and/or the amount of upgrade for theaffiliation game unit may be relatively high, whereas, where a smallproportion of the affiliation members accepted the offer, the level/typeof the affiliation game unit and/or the amount of upgrade for theaffiliation game unit may be relatively low. A high level and/or type ofan affiliation game unit and/or upgrade may translate into a relativelyincreased benefit to members of the affiliation, wherein the benefitimpacts game play in the virtual space. A low level and/or type of anaffiliation game unit and/or upgrade may translate into a relativelydecreased benefit to members of the affiliation. The operations at 808may be performed by a distribution component, such as distributioncomponent 155 shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with one or moreimplementations.

At an operation 810, the affiliation game unit and/or the upgradedetermined at operation 808 may be provided to the members of theaffiliation. All members of the affiliation may receive the affiliationgame unit and/or upgrade. In some implementations, only those memberswho accepted the offer may receive the affiliation game unit and/orupgrade. The operations at 810 may be performed by an a distributioncomponent, such as distribution component 155 shown in FIG. 1, inaccordance with one or more implementations.

Although the present technology has been described in detail for thepurpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be themost practical and preferred implementations, it is to be understoodthat such detail is solely for that purpose and that the technology isnot limited to the disclosed implementations, but, on the contrary, isintended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that arewithin the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it isto be understood that the present technology contemplates that, to theextent possible, one or more features of any implementation can becombined with one or more features of any other implementation.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system that provides increased benefits tovirtual items that are controllable and/or accessible by multiple usersof a virtual space by virtue of the multiple users being included in anaffiliation of users within an online game taking place in the virtualspace, the system comprising: one or more physical processors configuredby machine-readable instructions to: receive commands over a networkfrom client computing platforms associated with the users; performoperations in the virtual space associated with the online game inresponse to the commands received over the network from the clientcomputing platforms associated with the users, wherein receiving thecommands and performing the operations facilitates participation by theusers in the online game; manage one or more affiliations within theonline game, wherein managing the one or more affiliations includesreceiving affiliation information over the network from the clientcomputing platforms associated with the users requesting and/oraccepting association with the one or more affiliations, a givenaffiliation within the online game comprising a discrete group of userswith a relationship having a functional significance within the onlinegame that has an impact on game play, wherein the affiliations include afirst affiliation between a group of users including a first user and asecond user, wherein the first affiliation is associated with a firstaffiliation game unit, wherein the first affiliation game unit iscontrollable and/or accessible by both the first user and the seconduser by virtue of their inclusion in the first affiliation; receive,from a first client computing platform associated with the first user,information regarding the first user providing one or more virtual itemsto increase a first level value of a first benefit metric of the firstaffiliation game unit; and increase the first level value of the firstbenefit metric of the first affiliation game unit in response toreceiving the information regarding the first user providing the one ormore virtual items.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein an amount ofincrease in the first level value is based on one or more of a number ofusers having the first affiliation that provide one or more virtualitems to increase the level of the first benefit metric of the firstaffiliation game unit and/or a number of the one or more virtual itemsprovided by the users having the first affiliation.
 3. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the first benefit metric of the first affiliation gameunit has one or more discrete benefit level values and the system isconfigured to promote the first benefit metric from a first benefitlevel value to a second benefit level value in response to a thresholdnumber of the users having the first affiliation providing a thresholdnumber of one or more virtual items to promote the first affiliationgame unit.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the individual ones of thediscrete group of users in the first affiliation that are able tocontrol and/or access the first affiliation game unit have arelationship having a functional significance with the other users ofthe discrete group of users in the first affiliation.
 5. The system ofclaim 4, wherein the relationship having a functional significanceincludes one or more of a leadership role, a controller role, amentorship role, and/or an administrator role.
 6. The system of claim 1,wherein the individual ones of the discrete group of users in the firstaffiliation able to control and/or access the first affiliation gameunit includes users having an indication of a priority for controllingand/or accessing the first affiliation game unit.
 7. The system of claim1, wherein the one or more physical processors are configured bymachine-readable instructions to effectuate presentation of an offer tothe users of the first affiliation to provide one or more virtual itemsfor increasing the first benefit level of the first benefit metric ofthe first affiliation game unit associated with the first affiliation.8. The system of claim 7, wherein the one or more physical processorsare configured by machine-readable instructions to effectuatepresentation of the offer to the users having the first affiliation topurchase one or more virtual items for increasing the first benefitlevel of the first benefit metric of the first affiliation game unitassociated with the first affiliation.
 9. The system of claim 1, whereinthe first benefit metric of the first affiliation game unit includes oneor more of a defense metric, an attack metric, a skill metric, a loyaltymetric, a moral metric, an energy metric, and/or a speed metric.
 10. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the first benefit metric of the firstaffiliation game unit includes one or more of a resource metric and/or aproduction attack metric.
 11. A method for providing increased benefitsto virtual items that are controllable and/or accessible by multipleusers of a virtual space by virtue of the multiple users being includedin an affiliation of users within an online game taking place in thevirtual space, the method to be performed using one or more physicalcomputer processors, the method comprising: receive commands over anetwork from client computing platforms associated with the users;perform operations in the virtual space associated with the online gamein response to the commands received over the network from the clientcomputing platforms associated with the users, wherein receiving thecommands and performing the operations facilitates participation by theusers in the online game; managing one or more affiliations within theonline games, wherein managing the one or more affiliations includesreceiving affiliation information over the network from the clientcomputing platforms associated with the users requesting and/oraccepting association with the one or more affiliations, a givenaffiliation within the online game comprising a discrete group of userswith a relationship having a functional significance within the onlinegame that has an impact on game play, wherein the affiliations include afirst affiliation between a group of users including a first user and asecond user, wherein the first affiliation is associated with a firstaffiliation game unit, and wherein the first affiliation game unit iscontrollable and/or accessible by both the first user and the seconduser by virtue of their inclusion in the first affiliation; receiving,from a first client computing platform associated with the first user,information regarding the first user providing one or more virtual itemsto increase a first level value of a first benefit metric of the firstaffiliation game unit; and increasing the first level value of the firstbenefit metric of the first affiliation game unit in response toreceiving the information regarding the first user providing the one ormore virtual items.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein an amount ofincrease in the first level value is based on one or more of a number ofusers having the first affiliation that provide one or more virtualitems to increase the level of the first benefit metric of the firstaffiliation game unit and/or a number of the one or more virtual itemsprovided by the users having the first affiliation.
 13. The method ofclaim 11, wherein the first benefit metric of the first affiliation gameunit has one or more discrete benefit level values and the system isconfigured to promote the first benefit metric from a first benefitlevel value to a second benefit level value in response to a thresholdnumber of the users having the first affiliation providing a thresholdnumber of one or more virtual items to promote the first affiliationgame unit.
 14. The method of claim 11, wherein the individual ones ofthe discrete group of users in the first affiliation that are able tocontrol and/or access the first affiliation game unit have arelationship having a functional significance with the other users ofthe discrete group of users in the first affiliation.
 15. The method ofclaim 14, wherein the relationship having a functional significanceincludes one or more of a leadership role, a controller role, amentorship role, and/or an administrator role.
 16. The method of claim11, wherein the individual ones of the discrete group of users in thefirst affiliation able to control and/or access the first affiliationgame unit includes users having an indication of a priority forcontrolling and/or accessing the first affiliation game unit.
 17. Themethod of claim 11, further comprising: effectuating presentation of anoffer to the users of the first affiliation to provide one or morevirtual items for increasing the first benefit level of the firstbenefit metric of the first affiliation game unit associated with thefirst affiliation.
 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:effectuating presentation of the offer to the users having the firstaffiliation to purchase one or more virtual items for increasing thefirst benefit level of the first benefit metric of the first affiliationgame unit associated with the first affiliation.
 19. The method of claim11, wherein the first benefit metric of the first affiliation game unitincludes one or more of a defense metric, an attack metric, a skillmetric, a loyalty metric, a moral metric, an energy metric, and/or aspeed metric.
 20. The method of claim 11, wherein the first benefitmetrics of the first affiliation game unit includes one or more of aresource metric and/or a production attack metric.